Shredding and spinning machine.



e. A. LOWRY. SHBEDDING AND SPINNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12 1914. 1,291,955.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I w J Ewwwtoz a. a M M G. A. LOWRY. SHBEDDING AND SPINNING MACHINE.

APPLlCATiON FILED MAR. 12, Wi l.

' Patented Jan. 21,1919.

I I fi'SHEETS-SHEET 2 G. A. LOWRY.

SHREDDING AND SPINNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I2, 1914.

.1 ,291,955. Patented Jan. 21,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I lllllUJ III! m: noun: mm ca. Imam-ma. \nsnmcmn. n. n

G. A. LDWRY. SHREDDING AND SPINN!N G MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.\2,1914.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

q m bvwooeo %J m...- 01 62.

G.-A. LOWRY.

SHREDDING AND SPINNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men MAR. I2, 1914.

1,291,955. Patented Jan.21,1919.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

G. A. LOWRY.

SHREDDING AND SPINNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1914.

1,291,955. Patented Jan. 21,1919.

6 SHEETSSHEEI 6. fi'gffi i9 a //57V 244 V UNITED srarns PATENT OFFIGE.

GEORGE A. LOWRY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, 'BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

' A. BLAIR RIDINGTON.

SHREDDHVGAND SPINNING MACHINE. V 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Application filed March 12, 1914. Serial No. 824,136.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. LowRY, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have made a.certain new and useful Invention in Shredding and Spinning Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for shredding palmetto or palm leavesOrother material and spinning the same into twine.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which is simple inconstruction and eflicient in operation for shredding palmetto or palmleaves, and the like and spinning the shredding product into twine.

The invention consists substantially in'the construction, combination,location and relative arrangement of parts all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, andfinally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawlI1gS,-r

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a shredding and spinning machineembodying the principles of. my invention.

Flg. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section on the line 2, 2, Fig.1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a broken detailview in trans verse section showing therelation of the shredding devices on opposite sides of a conveyer, andmeans for supporting the leaf or other article to be shredded againstthe action of the shredding devices.

'Fig. 5 is a broken detail view in topplan showing a pair of shreddingcutters.

Fig. 6 is a broken detail view in transverse section, showing theoperation of a portion of the selector mechanism for the shreddedmaterial.

Fig. 7, is a similar view showing the parts as in Fig.6 but looking inthe opposite direction.

, Fig. 8 is a view in top plan, parts'broken ofi', showing the feedwheel carrying the nippers which grip and transfer the shredded fiberfrom the shredding to the spinning mechanisms.

Fig. 9 isa view in top plan of a portion of the shredding mechanism, andshowing the selector mechanism. 7. r

Fig. 10 is a broken detail view in top plan of theselector mechanism.

nipper device.

erly shredding the same.

Fig. 11 is a similar view in elevation of the construction shown in Fig.10. V

Fig. 12 is a broken detail view in side elevation of a shredding cutterdevice.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15, are broken detail views of a portion of the feedwheel Figs. 16 and 17 are respectively,front and side elevations of thespinning and twinerdelivery mechanism. V

Fig. 18 is a broken view in longitudinal central section through thespinning-and trimming head.

Fig. 19 is a transverse section ofithe same on the line a, a, Fig. 18,looking in th'edirection of the arrows v Fig. 20 is a broken detailvieW,-partly in section of the twine deliveryrolls.

Fig. 21 is a view showing a leaf of the :palmetto or palm, andillustrating the "shredding operation.

Fig. 22 is a' detail viewin section of "the conveyer chain andcooperating shoe.

Fig. 23 is a similar view showing a modified arrangement.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary view in side'ele- 7 vation showing a leafsmoothingattachment associated with the shredding cutter. Fig. 25 is adetail view in section onthe line 72, b, Fig. 24.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral, wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

The leaves of the palmetto or palm trees which grow luxuriantly inFlorida and other places in this and in tropical countries, are capableof being shredded or divided into fibers or slivers which are strong andeasily spun into twine .for use-in various ways, and for the variouspurposes for which twine is adapted, such, forinstance, as binder twine,matting, bagging and-the like. The availability of suchfleaves, and ingreat abundance, at practically all-seasons of the year, makes theproduction ofmachinery for shredding and spinning the' same, anattractive business proposition. "By reason of the peculiar formationof-the leaves, it is necessary to shred them in a particular way inorder to secure 'the best results. In Fig. 21 I haveshown a typical leafand have indicated the manner of prop- It will be observed that the leafis of substantially elongated diamond shape with the point of showing .a

shred the leaf for a small portion only preferably with referencegreatest width at approximately the mid extend in general parallelrelation to the.

side edges of the leaf from the mid length point A of the leaf towardone s end as indicated at F, and consequently in eneral eonver inrelation to each other, that is, converging toward each other at theextreme outer end of the leaf. On the other side of the mid line A,these fiber lines extend in general parallel relation, to each other,but not to the side edges of the leaf as indicated at E. I have foundthat if it is attempted to slice or shred the leaf from end to end alongparal lel lines, the shredded portions are of unequal width due to thepeculiar diamond shaped outline of the leaf. I have also found that anyattempt to slice or shred the leaf at one stroke of a slicing orshredding device or even one half or somewhat less, of the length oftheleaf results in cutting off or breaking off the leaf or the "slivers,and therefore, I have found it necessary to clamp or hold the leaf at,or in the region of, its mid length and then, by the action ofsuccessively acting shredding devices, slice 01f;

its length measured from one of its extreme ends, as indicated at C,Fig. 21 and then for another portion of its length extending toward itsclamped region, and by cutters arranged in staggered relation to the cutof the first set of cutters as indicated at D, and so on for successivecuts, until the entire length of the -leaf on one side of the clamp orholder is shredded. I then, in accordance with my invention, transferthe partly shredded leaf to another clamp or holding device which isapplied to the previously shredded portion and repeat the sameprogressive shredding operation on the other end of the leaf,

thereby effecting the complete shredding of the leaf from end to end.

In carrying out this part of my invention, I provide suitable shreddingor slicing devices and transport or convey the leaves successivelytherepast, the shredding cutters being placed at one side of theconveyer and operatingtransversely to the line of feed thereof, theleaves lying transversely of the conveyer and clamped or held thereto atthe mid-point or region thereof, thereby enabling the shredding cuttersto operate in the direction of the length of the leaves.

After the leaf has thus been shredded at one end it is transferred toanother conveyer which, as above indicated, clampsior engages thepreviously shredded portion and conveys the unshredded portion pastsimilar shredding cutters similarly arranged and reference numeral 29.

positioned on the opposite side of the second conveyer which completethe shredding of the leaf. The resulting product is amass of finelydivided long slivers or fibers well adapted for spinning into twine. Ialso propose, in accordance with my invention,

to provide means which are simple and efficient for dividing andselecting the fibers, and in sufficient successive quantities which areseized by nippers and transferred from the oonveyers above referred to,and transported and delivered to the spinning devices by means of whichthey are formed into twine, and from which the twine is delivered infinished form.

It is among the special purposes of my invention to provide means whichare simple in construction and efiicient in operation for accomplishingthe various operations referred to, and others to be more specificallyhereinafter referred to.

It is also among the special objects of my invention to combine theshredding and spinning devices into a cooperative self contained machinecapable of receiving the leaves, shredding the same, spinning theshredded product into twine, and trimming and delivering the finishedtwine product.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown, as an exemplificationof my invention, one form of mechanism for carrying out the operationsabove described, v22, desi nates a suitable'frame work'for supportingthe various operating parts of the machine, and which framework supportsa receiving table 23, upon which the leaves are placed preparatory tointroducingthem to the conveyer mechanism. In the frame work is mounteda main drive shaft 24, adapted to receive rotation from any suitable orconvenient source, as, for instance, through a drive pulley 25. Fromthis main shaft, .the various operating parts'of the machine are driven.shown, but to which my invention is not to be limited or restricted, theshaft 242' may serve also as a revolving support for the sets -ofshredding or slicing devices indicated generally by reference numerals26,27, which are arranged at one. side of the conveyer mechanism, andwhich operate on one end of the leaf to be shredded. In the framework ismounted a shaft 28, see Fig. 1, upon which are mounted the shreddingdevices or slicers indicated generally by This shaft 28 is arranged, inthe particular form shown, in parallel relation to shaft 24, butispositioned on the opposite side of the conveyer mechanism,to enablethe shredders 29 to act upon the opposite ends of the leaves from theends thereof which are acted upon by the shredders 26, 27 The shaft 28,may be driven in any. suitable or convenient manner. In the combined andself contained or- If desired, and as to insure an efficient grippingaction on the ganized machine shown as .embodyinginy the chain 31,operating to feed the leaves:

tobe shredded past the shredders 29, while the chain'32efi'ectsthe feedof the leaves past the shredders 26, 27, although, as indicated in Fig.1', the shredders 26 may operate on the extreme ends'of the leaves whilesaid leaves are being fedby the conveyer 31.-

Preferably the surface of the conveyer links which engages the leavesare slightly corru gated or serrated, as indicated at 33, Fig. 11,

leaves. The conveyer 31, operates over sprocket wheels respectivelycarried by shafts 34, 35, one of saidsprocket wheels being shown at 36,Figs. 1 and 2. The other conveyer 32, operates over sprocket wheels 37,38, carried, respectively, by shafts 35 and 39. The conveyer chains maybe driven and operated in any suitable and convenient manner. In thecomplete organized machine embodying my invention I have shown a simpledrive gearing for the conveyers wherein such drive is accomplished fromthemain drive shaft 24, of the machine through a worm gear 40, thereonwhich meshes with and drives a gear 41 on a shaft 42, upon whichis'mounted a sprocket wheel 43. A

sprocket chain 44, operates over the sprocket wheel 43, on shaft 42, andover a cooperating sprocket wheel on shaft 39, thereby drivin theconveyer 32, which, in turn, drives shaft 35, and said shaft drivesconveyer 31.

Inorder to properly support and guide the conveyer chains and to holdtheir upper surfaces in a strictly horizontal plane, I providehorizontal bar 99 which is supported upon the frame beneath eachconveyer, and on which the conveyer restsand along which it operates,said bar extending upwardly into the space between the side links of thechain, as clearly shown inFigs. 4 and 7,

thereby not only supporting the chain but holding it to operate in astraight line.

The palmetto or palm leaf has a thick rib at its longitudinal centralline and a thin rib along each of its two side edges, and consequentlythe leaf cannot be efiiciently held or clamped for feeding between twoflat unyielding surfaces since the thick longitudinal central rib oftheleaf would take the entire clamping or holding pressure and henceduring the action of the shredding cuttersthe thin parts of the leafbetween its thick central and edge ribs would tend to pull out and breakoff. For this reason, and

of endless. linked chains,

essential object. being to g' clamping action upon thethin as :well asin order to overcome the difficulty noted, which I have found to be aserious one, I employholding shoes 45, 46, and position the same,yieldingly above so as to cooperate respectively with theconveyer'chains 31, 32.

y reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the shoe 45, is, yieldinglypressed downs wardly toward the conveyer chain 31, the

extreme forward end of the shoe beings'uitr ably beveled upwardly, asindicated at 47, to facilitate the introduction of the leaves etween theshoe and the chain. I also provide the, under side of theshoe with adownwardly projecting rib 48, whichoperates between the side links ofthe chain, see Fig.22. .This arrangement, in connection; with the thechain links, indicated at 33, I have found efficient in overcoming theobjection and difficulty above noted, and'in securing the gripping andclamping action upon the leaves to efficiently hold them during theaction of the shredders so asto prevent tear ing, pulling out orbreaking.ofl the slivers particularly at the thin parts of the leaves.

I have found, however, thatjotherarrangements of equal efficiency maybeemployed. For instance, the conveyer chain may be provided or facedwithayielding surface with which the shoe 45, cooperates. forillustrative purposes I have shownin Fig. 23, two cotton or leatherfaced round belts 49, applied longitudinally between the side linksofthe conveyer chain, the rib 48 on theshoe depending slightly into thespace between said belts. Other arrangements may be devised and stillfall within the spirit and serration of the upper surfaces of I scope ofmy invention, the important and secure an efficient upon the thickor ribto be'shredded.

The leaves are fed to portions of the leaves the machine from thereceiving table 23, being successively inserted fiatwise, by hand orotherwise, under the end 47 of the shoe'45 and clamped thereby as aboveexplained andcarried by the chains past the shredding cuttersi; f Y r Ihave found in practice that the con-. struction and arrangement of theshredding cutters. plays an important part inthe' suc-' cess of themachine. If a series of blades are employed and assembled together insufficient number and with the required spacial relation tosub-dividethe leaf to a sufficient degree of fineness. the leaf or theshreds-or slivers thereof will be cut or broken'ofi'. I- have found thatthis result occurs when a series of knives are placed one thirty second,and even one sixteenth of an inch apart. 'In

order'to avoid thisobjection and difficulty I propose, in accordancewith the principles of my invention, to arrange the shredding. cuttersin pairs of two each, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5, the blades 50, 51,being preferably curved in the direction of their rotary movement andsharpened to a knife edge 52, at their extreme ends and having theiradjacent surfaces rounded and smoothed ofl' like the sides of a needle.In addition, I prefer to bring the knife edge portions of each pair ofshredding cutters into closer proximity to each other than the shanks 0fthe cutters, as clearly shown, in order to avoid undue friction on theshredded portions of the leaf.

The cutters or'shredders, arranged as above described are carried at theperipheries of carrier disks 93, in the case of the set 29, and onsimilar disks in the case of the sets 26 and 27. These disks are ofsuccessively increasing diameter from the feeding in end of the machine,with the result that the cutters of the first disk of set 29, willaccomplish the initial shredding of a short portion only of one extremeend of the leaf,

as indicated at C, Fig. 4:, those of the next succeeding diskaccomplishing the shredding of a somewhat greater length of the leaf, asindicated at D, Fig. l, and so on, the cutters one disk being arrangedsomewhat out of the cutting plane of those of the preceding disk so asto effect a slitting action on the leaf between the slits made by thecutters of the preceding disk, as clearly shown. In this manner the leafis sub-divided to an extent to produce shreds or to approximate fibersuitable for spinning purposes, and in a most efficient manner.

It sometimes occurs that the edges of the leaves curl or turn up, orthat the thin portion of the leaf may become broken or otherwise warpedso that instead of the knife edges entering the leaf at right angles tothe plane of the leaf they enter in inclined relation to such plane andconsequently fail to effect a cut of uniform width of the leaf. In orderto avoid this objection I provide means for smoothing out the leaf orthe portion thereof operated on by the shredders, and preferably at apoint immediately in advance of the cutters. This result may beaccomplished in various ways. A simple arrangement is shown which I havefound efficient for the'purpose, and wherein I provide the cutter disks53 with arms Or projections 95 which are arranged to extend transverselyof the leaf and are positioned somewhat in advance of the cutters. Thesearms or projections engage the leaf in advance of their associatedcutters and smooth out the leaf against the backing or support 53. ThisI have found a most important feature of my invention. 7

While one end of the leaf is being shredded by the set of cutters 29 onone side of the conveyer 31, the similarly arranged cutters of the set26, may be operating on the other end of the leaf, in accordance withthe arrangement above described. These operations, however, still leaveunshredded that portion of the leaf which is clamped by the conveyerchains and shoe. In order to accomplish the shredding of this portion ofthe leaves it is necessary that the partially shredded leaf betransferred to the other conveyer. This is accomplished automatically bythe first conveyer 31 feeding and delivering to the second conveyer, thepreviously shredded portion of the leaf being gripped and clamped by theconveyer 32 and its associated shoe 46, which is constructed, mountedand associated with respect to chain 32 in like manner to theconstruction mounting and association of shoe 45, with reference tochain 31, as above explained. This action releases the unshreddedportion of the leaf and enables the set of cutters 27 to act thereon tocomplete the shredding of the entire leaf, the cutters of this sethaving similar relation and arrangement to that above described withreference to the sets 29 and 26.

In order to prevent the cutters from tearing off, breaking or rupturingthe leaves or the shreds thereof, particularly at the thin parts of theleaf, and to insure the points of the cutters penetrating through theleaf as the leaf itself is a yielding body, it is necessary toefficiently support the leaf at the points where the shredding knivesenter it. This support may be afforded by a yielding surface or by astationary surface with slight grooves to receive and permit the knifepoints to pass through. In practice I have found that supporting surfacecomposed of bristles like a nail brush is efficient for the purpose, thebristles holding the leaf up to the action of the cutters and allowingthe cutter blades to pass freely through them. I have found good resultsare attainable by employing soft metal plates suitably scored orgrooved. In Fig. 4 I have shown bristle supports 53 embodying the aboveprinciples of my invention.

By the operation of the apparatus so far described the palmetto or palmor other leaves are shredded into fiber suitable for spinning intotwine, and in accordance with my invention of a completely organizedself contained machine for producing a complete twine product, Iassociate and, combine with the shredding mechanism above described aspinning mechanism to which the fiber ried a series of nipper devicesthe function of which is to grip the shredded fiber in sufficientsuccessive quantities as delivered by the shredding mechanism, draw thegripped quantities out of the shredded 'mass and deliver them to atwister head by which they are spun into twine. The nipper wheel 55, orits carrying shaft 5%, may be driven in any suitable or convenientmanner. In order to secure the advantage of timely operation of thenipper wheel and spinning apparatus with reference to the shreddingmechanism, I propose to drive the nipper wheel shaft from the mainshaft,and, to this end, I provide a sprocket or other form of drive gearconnection 56, see Fig. 1, from shaft 28, to shaft 54, said shaft 28,being driven from the main shaft 24, in the manner. above described.

The nippers devices comprise a movable nipper j aw. 57 which is normallybut yieldingly maintained closed upon a cooperating clamping surface 59by means of a spring 58, engaging the shank60 of said jaw. In ordertoinsure an efficient grip on all the fibers which may be selected andseparated andforced intotthe range of the nipper ac tionnotwithstandingindividual fibers may vary as to their relative, size or thickness, Iprovide the clamping surface of the nipper jaw 57 V with inclined prongs90, 91, see Fig. 13, which work through a slot inthe cotiperatinclamping plate 59, and which form, in e ect, a V shaped recess intowhich the selectedand separated quantity of fiber 'is forced, as will bedescribed hereinafter,

while the jaw 57 is open. When this jaw is closed the fibers crowdedinto the V- shaped recess or seat and against each other are clampedagainst the plate 59 and efiiciently held notwithstanding variations inrelative sizes orthickness of individual fibers. When, during therotation of the nipper wheel, a nipper is. brought into proper relationwith the shredded material delivered from the shredding mechanism, theshank 60 of the nipper jaw. is brought into engaging relation withrespect to a cam surface 61', by means of which said shank is rockedagainst the action of its spring 58, to cause the jaw 57, thereof toopen to receive the fiber, When the nipper is carriedbeyond the cam 61the nipper jaw again closes and grips the portion of fiber which liesbetween it and the surface 59. The wheel 55 revolves in a direction tocause the nippers to. move downwardly through the fiber and therefore asthe wheel continues its revolving movement the fiber which has beengripped by the nipper jaw are drawn longitudinally out of the massdelivered from the shredding mechanism, with the forward ends of thefiber held by thenipper, and inthis relation the portion rection of thelength of the fiber. I have found that the shredded fibers are quiteyielding and therefore that it is necessary'to provide means to liftthem up into the V- shaped seat or recess in the jaws of the nippers. Ihave also foundit desirable to select the quantity of fiber, to go intoeach nipper and to divideor separate this quantityfrom the outcomingmass. I have shown a construction and arrangement of selector mechanismwhich issimple and. effi cient for the purpose, comprising anupwardlymoving, forked member 62. This forked member may be projected upwardlythrough the shredded mass .in timely cooperation with the nipper wheeland nippers, in any suitable or convenient manner. In practice I preferto operatethe selector member 62 by the nipper wheel itself. Asillustrative of an operative arrangement for accomplishing this result,but to; which of course, my invention is not to be limitedor restricted,I have shown the member 62, as engaged by one arm of. a bellcrank lever64, the other arm of which is engaged by-a spring pressed slide,5, whichis periodically moved against the action of its spring by camprojections 63""on the nipper. wheel. This forked member when thusactuated,

moves upwardlythroughthe massof shred- .ded fibers and not only selectsthe required quantity thereof and separates the same from the mass, butalso presses the selected and separated mass into the V-shaped seat inthe nipper jaws.

Asabove explained the nippers draw the selected and separated bunches orportions of fibers lengthwise from the mass, their front ends beingclamped and held bythe nipper jaw. At a convenient point insuitablerelation to a receiving trough 66,- the nipper jaws are again opened bytheshank portions60 thereof engaging a cam 67, see Fig. 3, to releasethe fibers. Before being released, however, the gripped ends of thefibers are carried so that the rear ends thereof which at this point inthe operation depend into the trough 66, are being caught up andamalgamated into the swirl of fibers passing into the twister head. Thisinsures the fibers being properly amalgamated into the mass which ispassing into the twiste'r head and through the rotation of which head aswirl is imparted to the mass in or trough 66.

the hopper This hopper ortrough is downwardly andrearwardly inclined andisfunnel shaped, as shown in Fig. 3, and its rear end delivers into themouth 69 of the twister head. This twister head 70, is journaled torevolve in a standard 71 of the machine frame, and is provided withmeans to impart a rapid rotation thereto, such, for example, as a pulley72, over which operates a drive belt 7 3, driven from any convenientsource, as a pulley 74, on a shaft 75 rotated by a sprocket gearing 76from a shaft 77, which, in turn is driven from main shaft :24, by thegears 78. The twister head carries yieldingly mounted gripper jaws 79which lightly grip the fibers as they pass into the twister head andimpart the twisting action thereto.

From the twister jaws the twine passes through a cylindrical trimmingcutter 80, which trims off any externally projecting ends. From thetwister head and trimmer the twine passes to a draw head, which, in thisinstance, comprises suitably driven rolls 81, 82, between which thedelivered twine is led and by which it is drawn. These rolls are drivenby means of a gear connection 83, from main shaft 2 to the shaft 84, ofone of said rolls. From the draw head the completed twine may bedelivered to any suitable ruling mechanism or otherwise.

It will be observed that throughout the entire operation of the machinefrom the time the leaves are introduced until the shredded fibers arefinally twisted together into twine, the fibers are always maintained instraight and parallel relation, without the necessity of employingcombing or carding apparatus, and this I find a most valuable feature ofan. organized machine embodying my invention.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention, and aconstruction embodying the principles thereof, I wish it to beunderstood that many variations and changes in the details might readilyoccur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit andscope of my invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and useful and of my own invention and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a combined shredding and spinningmachine, the combination of shredding devices and spinning devices, ofmeans for feeding the material to be shredded in a horizontal path pastthe shredding devices, said means operating to maintain the shreddedfibers in parallel relation from the beginning of the shreddingoperation till formed into the twine product.

2. The combination with shredding devices and means arranged to traveltherepast for presenting the articles to be shredded to said devices inparallel relation to the line of action of said devices, of a spinningapparatus and. means for drawing out the shredded fibers longitudinallyfrom said presenting means for delivery to the spinning devices.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with shreddingand spinning devices, of a conveyer and a shoe positioned above andparallel with the conveyer and having a rib presented toward theconveyer, said conveyer arranged to move past the shredding devices, andmeans for withdrawing the shredded fibers endwise from between theconveyer and shoe rib for presentation to the spinning devices.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with shreddingand spinning devices, of a conveyer and a shoe yieldingly supported overand in parallel relation to the conveyer and having a rib presentingdownwardly toward the conveyer, said conveyer arranged to move past theshredding devices, and means for withdrawing the shredded fibers endwisefrom between the conveyer and shoe rib, for presentation to the spinningdevices. 7

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with shreddingand spinning devices, of a conveyer having a resilient surface portion,and a shoe supported above and in parallel relation to the conveyer andcoijperating with the resilient surface portion thereof to grip thematerial to be. shredded therebetween, said conveyer arranged to movepast the shredding devices. and means for withdrawing the shredded,fibers endwise from between the shoe and conveyer, for delivery to thespinning devices.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with shreddingand spinning devices, of a conveyer having side portions and a shoepositioned over and in parallel relation to the conveyer, said shoehaving a rib depending into the space between the side portions to gripthe material to be shredded in position to be carried along by theconveyer, said conveyer arranged to move past the shredding devices, andmeans to withdraw the shredded fibers endwise from between the shoe andconveyer, for del1very to the spinning devices. Y

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with shreddingand spinning devices, of a conveyer having serrated side portions, and ashoe positioned over and in parallel relation to the conveyer, said shoehaving a rib depending into the space between the serrated side portionsto grip the material to be shredded in position to be carried along bythe conveyer, said con veyer arranged to move past the shreddingdevices, and means to withdraw the shredded fibers endwise from betweenthe 8. In a machine of the class described, the combination withshredding devices, of a conveyer having side portions and a res'ilientsurface intermediate said side portions, and a shoe positioned over andin parallel relation to the conveyer and having a rib cooperating withsaid resilient surface portion to grip the material to-be shredded inposition to be carried along by the conveyer, said conveyer arranged tooperate past the shredding devices, and means to withdraw the shreddedfibers endwise from between the shoe and conveyer.

9. In a machine of the class described, a conveyer means for retainingpalmetto leaves in crosswise relation thereon, means for actuating theconveyer, cutters operating in the direction of the length of the leavesand positioned on opposite sides of the conveyer, said cutters arrangedin successive series to operate through successively increasing portionsof the length of the leaves, the cutters of one series being indisplaced relation with respect to those of the preceding series, andmeans for withdrawing the shredded fibers endwise from between theretaining means and the conveyer.

10. In a machine of the class described, a conveyer means to hold a leafto be shredded in crosswise relation thereon, cutters positioned onopposite sides of the conveyer, said cutters arranged in successive setsof increasing range of action, the cutters of one set operating betweenthe cuts made by the cutters of the preceding set, means for moving theconveyer past said cutters, and means for withdrawing the shreddedfibers endwise from the conveyer.

11. In a machine of the class described, a shredding mechanism includingcutters arranged in pairs the members of each pair having their cuttingpoints or edges in closer proximity than the shanks thereof.

12. In a machine of the class described, a shredding device including apair of cutters each having a knife edge cutting point, and a roundedand smooth adjacent shank portion.

13. In a machine of the class described, a shredding device including apair of cutters having their cutting edges brought into close proximityand their shanks separated.

14. In machine of the class described and in combination with shreddingdevices of a conveyer operating past the shredding devices and meanslocated alongside the conveyer for yieldingly supporting the article tobe shredded at the point of action of the shredding devices.

15. In a. machine of the class described, shredding devices arranged tooperate on successive lengths or portions of the article to be shredded,means for feeding the article laterally past the shredding devices, and

yielding support for the article to be shredded located alongside theconveyer and in the path of the shredders at the point of action of theshredders.

17. In a machine of the class described, and in combination withconveyer and shredding mechanism, of a nipper device operating throughthe shredded material,

and means for raising the shredded material into the nipper devices.

18. In a machine of the class described,

and in combination with conveyer and shredding mechanisms, of nipperdevices operating through the shredded mass, and means for selecting andseparating portions of the shredded mass and raising the same into thenipper devices.

19. In a machine of the class described and in combination with conveyerand shredding mechanism, of a nipper wheel, nipper jaws carried thereby,means for revolving said wheel in a direction to carry said nipper jawsthrough the mass of shredded material, means for raising portions of theshredded fibers into the nipper jaws, and means for opening and closingsaid nipper aws.

20. 'Ina machine of the class described, and in combination withconveyer and shredding mechanism, ofa nipper wheel arranged to operatein the direction of the length of the shredded material and havingnipper jaws and means operating to raise a portion of the shreddedmaterial into the nipper jaws to draw the same longitudinally from theshredded mass.

21. In a machine of the class described and in combination withshredding cutters and movable carriers therefor, of means carried bysaid carriers for smoothing out the leaves to be shredded in advance ofthe action of the cutters.

22. In a machine of the class described, rotary disks, cutters carriedthereby, and arms mounted on the carriers in advance of the cutters andoperating to engage and smooth out the leaves to be shredded.

23. In a machine of the class described, and in combination withconveyer and shredding devices, ofa support for the leaves to beshredded at the point of operation of the shredding devices, and meansoperating in advance of the shredding devices to smooth out the leaves.

24. In a machine of the class described, and in combination withconveyer and shredding devices, of a transfer mechanism for the shreddedmaterial including nipper jaws, and means for selecting separating andforcing the shredded material into the nipper jaws.

25. In a machine of the class described, and in combination withconveyer and shredding devices, of a nipper mechanism, including nipperjaws arranged to move through the shredded material, means for openingand closing said jaws, and a forked selector device arranged to operatethrough the mass of shredded material to select and separate portionsthereof, and force the selected portions into the nipper jaws, and meansto operate said selector device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in'the presence of thesubscribing witnesses On this 4th day of March, A.

GEORGE A. LOWRY. Witnesses W. A. DARBY, S. E. DARBY.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for in cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

